Despite their optimism, the couple said they are under no illusions as to the amount of building and decorating work it will take to transform the club into how they want it to look.

Locals packed the main bar on their very first day in charge

But, having only picked up the keys on December 10, they have managed to hit the ground running and were thrilled when locals packed the main bar on their first day open on Sunday, December 13.

“We have been coming back and forth on Sundays for a while and normally there’s about 40 people in here and it was standing room only,” said Jonathan.

The community is rallying round to support the club. Pictured on the stage from left: Jonathan Davies, director and landlord of Bettws Community Club, community councillor and founder member of Grassroots Cwm Garw Roz Stirman, director of Garw Valley Railway Melvin Stirman, PCSO Michael Rees and Laura Davies, director Bettws Community Club

They hope with this support, the expertise they gained working in community theatre – the pair met while working back stage at Maesteg Town Hall – and their degrees in event management, they can breathe new life into the social club, which they have rebranded the Bettws Community Club.

Laura, 27, a librarian at Bridgend Library, said they hope to open a community cafe and run events in the day, including bounce and rhyme sessions for babies and toddlers.

The pair, who are set to open the venue for six days a week from January, are also hoping to provide a platform for local musicians and singers – the club has a large main room with a stage – dance clubs and perhaps even host a youth theatre group, film nights and darts and snooker teams for local teenagers.

'It was one of the richest clubs in South Wales'

But before they can do any of that, Jonathan, who has a nine-year-old son Gareth, said they need to get the business up and running and hope the community will support their planned events over Christmas, which includes the pantomime Aladdin, by Wize Productions, Bridgend, on December 30.

He said their idea is to put on value-for-money productions, so people do not have to travel to Cardiff or Swansea.

“We are trying to keep things as cheap as possible and still pay the bills,” he said.

“We are asked if we are going to be refurbishing the building and putting more on and the answer we give everyone is the more support we get, the more we can do.

The outside of the club

“At the moment we are just trying to freshen the place up, so when people come in they can see it’s different.”

But, in the long term, the couple wants to replace the outdated 1980s decor throughout and bring rooms, which have been put out of use by damp issues and leaks, back into use.

They will also be refurbishing the flat and moving in above the club.

“Everybody has said this used to be the place to go,” said Laura. “It was one of the richest clubs in South Wales.”

• To find out more about events at the club and buy tickets for the pantomime, which cost £5 each or £16 for a family of four, go to www.bettwsclub.com or contact Jonathan and Laura on 07772902248.

Jonathan and Laura are also looking for a business tenant for the old Short Cuts building at the front of the social club car park. Anyone who is interested is asked to contact them on the number above.